Specialist: Technical Support

The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) was established in December 2004, in terms of the National Small Business Amendment Act. The Act merged the previous small enterprise development
agencies Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency, NAMAC Trust and the Community Public Private Partnerships (CPPP) into a single small enterprise support agencies. The GODISA Trust and the National Technology Transfer Centre were merged with Seda in April 2006, becoming the Seda Technology Programme (STP). The small enterprise support function of the South African Quality Institute (SAQI) and the Technology for Women in Business (TWIB) were
incorporated with the STP in 2008. To date, Seda has established a network throughout the 9 provinces with 42 branches, 27 incubation centres, provincial offices and a national office.

Seda provides business-related information, advice, business registration, access to markets, facilitation of access to finance, training and mentoring services in all areas of business development for small enterprises. Through the STP, Seda also provides business and technology incubation services, support for management systems implementation (such as ISO9001 and OHSAS 18001), product testing and certification, as well as machinery and equipment.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the following exciting and challenging positions at the National Office, Sunnyside:

Specialist: Technical Support

Reporting to the Manager: New Offerings Development, the incumbent will provide technical support to the Seda branch network by ensuring that the business advisory assessment and diagnostic tools, information and web-hosting platforms are functional, up-to-date, relevant and available to the delivery network at all times. The incumbent will also be required to source, review, package and co-ordinate the effective implementation and delivery of Seda offerings developed in-house, as well as those emanating from various national and international partnerships.

Minimum requirements: * 3-year qualification in Software Development/Computer Science/Engineering/Business
Management * 3-5 years' practical experience in a small enterprise development support environment (platforms and/or assessment and diagnostic tools) * Relevant experience in the development of systems and programmes that support small enterprise development * Basic software development, project management, programme management and analytical skills * Small business advisory experience * Creative * Good stakeholder management skills * Self-starter * Results-orientated.

Key performance areas: * Develop and implement a strategy to source, review, refine and co-ordinate the implementation of Seda assessment tools and support platforms for small enterprise development l Based on review, regularly refine and co-ordinate implementation of the support tools and platforms at the Seda branches * Establish and maintain partnerships with relevant service providers and stakeholders, including overseas stakeholders, in order to effectively co-ordinate the support initiatives to maximise the benefits to the Seda delivery network * Develop and manage an annual work plan and budget with regard to Technical Support activities * Further develop the Seda tools and support platforms through capturing and disseminating best practices * Provide consolidated reporting on Technical Support * Establish and co-ordinate meetings of the Technical Support committee * Co-ordinate Technical Support initiatives on behalf of Programme Analysis and Development, with other internal and external stakeholders.

To apply, please send your CV to recruitmentpad@seda.org.za

Please state the position for which you are applying
in the subject line.
Closing date: 13 May 2011

If you have not heard from us within 90 days of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.